Email

The objections to CPEC are also a reflection of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan in the larger context.—Reuters/File

ONCE it is decided that the time has come for Pakistan and India to undergo another round of heightened hostilities there is never a dearth of issues to build up in order to sustain the tension.

There is always a cricket series that can be put on hold. There is easy “evidence” furnished by the Pakistani state about India’s spy agency RAW fomenting trouble via its Pakistan-based proxies. There is Kashmir, with its “Pakistan-trained infiltrators” emerging from the shadows, according to Indian reports.

In short, there are many differences that can be used to hold up whatever little progress has been achieved by the two countries on the peace agenda.

Now, amidst all the predictions of economics acting as the sole, or dominant, factor shaping international politics, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor — to which the Indian foreign minister has unjustifiably voiced strong objections — threatens to open up yet another front for the trademark waving of clenched fists by Islamabad and New Delhi.

On Sunday, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told journalists in Delhi that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken up the issue of the $46bn corridor running from Gwadar to China’s Xinjiang region with the Chinese government and had termed it “unacceptable” — a stance which has been criticised by Pakistan.

Even though India’s concerns appear to be rooted in a territorial dispute as it claims the corridor will run though Pakistan’s Kashmir region, such an attitude is both petty and unfortunate.

Apart from the fact that CPEC is a bilateral matter, the project, if implemented in a transparent manner and keeping the aspirations of all stakeholders in mind, has the potential to transform the economics of the region for the better.

Much will of course depend on efforts inside Pakistan, but the corridor can be seen as part of a larger plan to focus on connectivity that benefits more than one country in the region.

The objections to CPEC are also a reflection of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan in the larger context. The days when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hinted at better relations between the two countries have long passed.

In search of a common, recognisable ‘enemy’ to hit out at, Pakistanis are increasingly falling back on the old ‘hate-India’ mantra to build national cohesion.

Across the border, there are signs that the ‘nationalist’ Indian rulers believe that raising the Pakistan bogey for the present would benefit them. In addition, the BJP government does not see a resumption of dialogue between the two countries soon, linking talks with action in Pakistan against those accused of carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Such mistrust between the two has impeded progress in so many areas, besides doing nothing to tap the potential of the region’s billion-plus inhabitants. A negative approach to CPEC will not change that.

On DawnNews

Comments (42) Closed

shashank

Jun 03, 2015 06:59am

Am not sure she said that the corridor was unacceptable or the fact that it passes through pakistan held kashmir which was unacceptable. No sane person would oppose investment in subcontinent considering the poverty in this region, but territorial disputes have their own dynamics.

Recommend0

anonymous

Jun 03, 2015 07:42am

Why not just approach India and confront them about these allegations? Instead of reporting it in media, make a deal with India that works both ways. All international business deals are a compromise, we win some and we lose some and in the end everybody has something to be happy about.

Recommend0

faisal

Jun 03, 2015 09:06am

i hope one day both countries will realize there is no winner in this fight. there are inflated egos.

Recommend0

Kris

Jun 03, 2015 09:18am

A very balanced article on the prevailing Indo-Pak relationship. The election of Modi gave both sides a great opportunity to resume relationship on a new footing. I think that opportunity has been frittered away by both sides. The more entrenched the positions are, the more difficult it is to extricate ourselves. It doesn't look like there is any political will on either side to overcome the trust deficit that exist between the two countries.

Recommend0

Pragmatic

Jun 03, 2015 09:34am

I'm pretty sure if India starts a CPEC-like project to Afghanistan or Iran on Kashmir territory controlled by them, Pakistan would find it 'unacceptable' too.

Its not jealousy. Its just protecting their bargaining chips.

China baited Pakistan a CPEC project to push India in to corner. India baited maritime protection to Vietnam as a well calibrated response to that.

Hope that provides enough big picture to future commentors here.

Recommend0

M. Emad

Jun 03, 2015 09:39am

Building roads in disputed territory always create problem.

Recommend0

Black Sabbath

Jun 03, 2015 10:13am

India has a right to object to the CPEC since it runs through the disputed region of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Pakistan frequently reminds the world that Kashmir is disputed territory but that territory is not just in India but in Pakistan as well. India legitimately claims all of Kashmir since the princely state's ascension to India in 1948.

Recommend0

Sanjoy Sankar Guha

Jun 03, 2015 10:17am

Oh God! One more issue in the archives of junk and despair. Does this mean that peace between the two countries is going into the ventilator ? What about the PEOPLE of the two countries - who cares about them ?

Recommend0

Azhar Khan

Jun 03, 2015 10:41am

@M. Emad so do building Dams

Recommend0

N.S

Jun 03, 2015 10:46am

Indian hypocrisy...simple as that. For India failure of Pakistan is India's success...

Recommend0

Faraz

Jun 03, 2015 10:57am

@Pragmatic
The analogy drawn here of India's building a similar economic corridor to Iran via Afghanistan is unrealistic and illogical. Here the assumption Mr/Ms Pragmatic has drawn is that Kashmir is a neutral territory which anybody can criss cross and do whatever he/she can do. By similar analogy, Pakistan will have complete right to access the repressed people of Jammu Kashmir and help them.

Recommend0

Salih

Jun 03, 2015 11:01am

@Pragmatic How can you start a CPEC like project with Afghanistan and Iran...have you check out the map.

Also, don't you think India has already built CPEC like projects in the minds of Afghans. Almost 5 Millions Afghans for almost 5 Decades are in Pakistan, doing what for India everybody knows very well.

Recommend0

R.Subramanian

Jun 03, 2015 11:04am

In India no one votes how a Government is strict on Pakistan... more than Pakistan common Indians are several issues, so the election votes are based how a Government performs on the local issues.

BJP is not going to gain anything by being strict to Pakistan. Modi was elected because of his performance in Gujarat.

Recommend0

Imad Qureshi

Jun 03, 2015 11:10am

@Pragmatic Last I checked, India does not share a land border with Afghanistan or Iran even through Indian controlled Kashmir. So you won't be able to create the so called corridor to Afghanistan. CPEC route goes through Pakistan controlled Kashmir. We are not going through your country. Moreover, I would love to understand what kind of "economic" corridor you can create similar to CPEC with Afghanistan, of all the countries in the world. As for Iran, I am sure, India already has trade through sea and air routes.

So no, your bigger picture is not quite a bigger picture and it doesn't make any sense.

Recommend0

helloWorld

Jun 03, 2015 11:35am

This picture is awesome!

Recommend0

Sunil

Jun 03, 2015 11:42am

India is following the China's policies, who are building artificial islands in South China sea, which it claims as an integral part and US says its international waters.

Recommend0

Koshur

Jun 03, 2015 11:54am

@faisal Their Egos and hapless kashmiris cought inbetween

Recommend0

Qamar

Jun 03, 2015 12:13pm

India always object whatever Pakistan says or does. They should come up with something solid instead of this childish habit.

Recommend0

Anwar

Jun 03, 2015 12:21pm

India will have to change it's mind in order to have a durable progress, it can not flourish more and earn respect in the world with narrow heart and conservative mind.

There is difference between strategic diplomacy and ugly and absurd plotting against the neighbors. It's dream of enjoying regional power can't see the light of the day with dirty and narrow minds.

Every country is free to opt for it's policies one should not cry so much to die.

Recommend0

kamran

Jun 03, 2015 12:28pm

India is building dam in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, how can India build that while objecting on others. Pathetic and biased freekly India

Recommend0

lkhan

Jun 03, 2015 01:07pm

The so called super motorway linking China to Pakistan was built years ago already. That Gwadar Port be contracted to China, the present roadway with links to the major hubs of Pakistan is only Pakistan's business. NS made an excellent gesture to Modi by attending his swearing in ceremony. Modi has shown his true leanings since. Pakistan would be wise to have Laskhvi and other suspects linked to the Mumbai massacre tried on the fast track. With or without India's collaboration of providing investigative proof of guilt. Surely Pakistan has much on the same. It would be a right step to show the world and more importantly, Pakistanis themselves, the fight against terrorism has been taken up seriously against all such criminals....

Recommend0

rehan

Jun 03, 2015 01:34pm

@Pragmatic Well said. Anything that is good for Pakistan is not in India's interest.

Recommend0

Raja

Jun 03, 2015 02:47pm

@kamran Please remember that when Pakistan objects to dam building in Indian Kashmir. These are proforma statements. India is not against the CPEC but its passage through Pakistani Kashmir. Just as Pakistan is not against building of dams perse but to India building them in its part of Kashmir

Recommend0

Tanuj

Jun 03, 2015 03:09pm

Now imagine..if India was building a similar corridor from the Indian Kashmir..would you have said the same..

Recommend0

Taimoor Khan

Jun 03, 2015 03:10pm

India needs to first stop building dams and undo those who are already build in disputed territory of Kashmir which it controls before coming up with its tantrums.

Recommend0

Fayzee

Jun 03, 2015 03:12pm

@Kris Its not both sides, but just one side. Pak PM Nawaz was all about friendship and even went all the way to India on Modi's invitation, but what did he get back? The BJP govt. does not want to have friendly looking relations with Pakistan due to its internal politics.

Recommend0

Rabia

Jun 03, 2015 04:23pm

India must better focus on its matter rather than poking her nose into what we damn care for their comments. If they have this objection we have number of objections like Indo-US deal, NSG favour, Australian deal, Canada deal, Russia deal so better pay attention towards your matters.

Recommend0

iTellYou

Jun 03, 2015 05:54pm

@kamran You are missing the strategic issue here. India is concerned that China is providing legitimacy to Pakistan's claim on Kashmir.

Recommend0

Akil Akhtar

Jun 03, 2015 06:47pm

It is not the building of a road in Kashmir that is the problem as there are many roads built there and it is an illogical argument. It is the fact that this economic corridor is a threat to indian economic dominance in the region.
All selfish and greedy nations are the same, US and Israel do the same and destroy other nations and communities for their own financial gains.

Recommend0

navlururao

Jun 03, 2015 08:16pm

@Imad Qureshi , There's an alternative which India can easily follow . Anything out of Port Qasim / Karachi has to go through Indian Teritorial waters which extends right into Persian gulf , right into the borders of Oman . So , in this QUADRILATERAL area of 350 ,000 Sq. kms , India can remove anything that moves , incidentally Pakistani Vessels . We don't recognize any maritime International rules , particularly in case of W.Pakistan just like USA in South China sea all over . More over Khunjeerub Pass is at a touching distabnce of Indian Military near Siachin & we can take on both Pakistan / corridor which passes there . ( indian Territory ) Who objects as we have signed document of Accession .

Recommend0

Tom

Jun 03, 2015 08:44pm

@Akil Akhtar,

India is not concerned about Pakistan's economic progress. Indian economy is about to pick up major steam.

This is about China getting un-necessarily in the middle of a disputed territory. Kashmir needs to be resolved to India's satisfaction. Be prepared to see India increasingly assertive with China.

Recommend0

joseph

Jun 03, 2015 09:13pm

Pakistan should understand that if they want to progress, a good relation with India is necessary. Merely possessing few nuclear wont make your life better. Try to understand that India and Pakistan are not twin brothers. India as a country can comparable ONLY with China and USA. It is for the better future for your country to have a good diplomatic and economic relations. As far as India is concerned, Pakistan can not do NOTHING more than against it than during the 1990's. As famously says " Those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword".

Recommend0

Bairooni Haath

Jun 03, 2015 09:22pm

If you renounce your claim to Indian Kashmir, India will renounce its claim to Pakistan Kashmir. Let the line of actual control be international border. Europeans fought for hundreds of years before they became exhausted and drew borders based on practical realities.

Recommend0

dheeraj

Jun 03, 2015 09:28pm

Honestly....sick and tired of India and Pakistan.....both countries politics needs to mature..... I can never think india gives up on indian kashmir....and pakistan never gives up on pakistan side kashmir......so grow up and get over it, work towards growth....we are already a laugh stock in this modern era....

Recommend0

Parvez

Jun 03, 2015 09:40pm

"....Pakistan’s Kashmir region...." simple solution if you claim it be Pakistani territory, let the rest be claim by India come to some understating and move on!

Recommend0

Caz

Jun 03, 2015 09:54pm

The corridor passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and therefore cannot be used for making structural improvements such as roads bridges, etc which can also be used for military purposes. So the Indian foreign minister has a valid point according to international law.

Recommend0

kuppai

Jun 03, 2015 10:14pm

@Pragmatic This is the right perspective that you have explained succinctly.

Recommend0

saqibUK

Jun 04, 2015 12:02am

@Tanuj Building a Economic corrider to where............

Recommend0

Pan Mat

Jun 04, 2015 12:10am

"but the corridor can be seen as part of a larger plan to focus on connectivity that benefits more than one country in the region."

Strange but this logic does not hold its merit for Pakistan when discussing transit route for Afghanistan!!

Recommend0

Bharat

Jun 04, 2015 02:16am

It is a worry when you make this a big news.
China has a mind of it's own. They will listen to India. And India has it's own worries as well
It is extremely doubtful that China will listen
What does make a difference is that this is a big news item in Pakistan

Recommend0

ToThePoint

Jun 04, 2015 03:41am

Pakistan is terming Kashmir as a disputed territory. If Kashmir is a disputed territory then how can Pakistan executes a corridor project there?